igneous
Porphyritic Granite (Pink Granite)
Granite (plagioclase, alkali feldspar, quartz, biotite)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish-brown, white, and gray speckled; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Phaneritic/porphyritic coarse-grained igneous texture; Specific gravity: ~2.63-2.75
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink, reddish-brown, white, and gray speckled
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish-brown, white, and gray speckled; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Phaneritic/porphyritic coarse-grained igneous texture; Specific gravity: ~2.63-2.75
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow cooling and crystallization of felsic magma deep beneath the Earth's surface (intrusive igneous). Pink color is derived from potassium feldspar (orthoclase). Found worldwide in continental crust regions.
Uses & applications
Widely used as building material, countertops, dimension stone, monuments, landscaping, and decorative aggregate.
Geological facts
The pink hue in granite comes from orthoclase feldspar, which gains its color from trace amounts of iron within the crystal structure. Granite is one of the primary constituents of Earth's continental crust.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its visible interlocking crystals of pink orthoclase feldspar, translucent quartz, and dark biotite or amphibole. Common in glacial till, riverbeds, and mountainous regions.
